When Life Gives You Apples (or Doesn’t)

So, as I posted the other day, we headed up to Oak Glen for apple picking today. Our friends, Pat, Lea, and baby Jake came to our house bright and early, and we got ready to head out.

We’d gotten flyers in the mail from some of the farms about what apples are in season, and were so excited to head out for our yearly tradition. We didn’t bother to call ahead – we never had before, why would we start now? So, we piled in two cars and drove the 90 minutes up to the apples.

Only, sadly, there were no apples. We found out that due to a frost this season, the apple crops were affected, and apparently all their ripe apples had been picked last weekend. As well as every other farm up in Oak Glen. This was really disappointing. I’m sure it’s disappointing for them, but to drive 90 minutes with kids in tow for a day of NO apple picking is really not what we had in mind.

But, we came all this way, so what can we do? We can pick raspberries! Let’s go!

Heading up the hill for some berry picking.

Grace was the keeper of the berry basket.

The kids love Pat & Lea – and love Baby Jake!

Picking raspberries is a little more challenging with a baby strapped to your person.

After filling our baskets, we headed across the street to have lunch.

Our entertainment during lunch. The fiddle playin' kid was pretty darn good and about 15 years old. Bonus points if you can spot my reflection.

Jake liked the food, but wasn't sure about the entertainment, so we gave him another option.

He seemed to enjoy the "Grace jumping up and down" show a lot better.

And even though we didn’t get to pick them ourselves, we still walked away with plenty of apples.

And a fresh apple crisp for dessert tonight. YUM!!!

Well, for now we say, “Good-bye Oak Glen! We’ll see you next year… only next time, we’ll call first!”

On Saturday my daughter and I went apple picking. There were plenty of apples grown in an ecological way – not totally organic, but he tries as best as he can. They were delicious!! And the price is quite reasonable for this area – $1.10 a pound. Sorry you couldn’t find any. Maybe the memory of finding none will be more important than if you had found plenty as I did. Your story is a good reminder that in growing things, every year is different. You just have to go with the flow.

Sounds like fun! I love visiting apple orchards and nearby Michigan fruit country but have never been to a U-pick. Instead, I walk around the edges of cornfields looking for berries. Once I got enough to make a small pie, wich I blogged about back in July or August sometime. It was a lot of work though. Picking berries in those neat, mostly weed- and bug-free rows must be worth the drive.

I’d say you had a pretty good day, even sans apples (picking). I can imagine driving the 90 miles to find no apples, but looks like you guys were pretty resourceful. The music sounded (!) great. Baby Jake is so adorable. I’ve been apple picking with my grand kids, and they loved in so much. We have raspberry bushes in our back yard, so no need to travel 90 miles! Ha!

bummer! but it sounds like you made the best of it. i plan to take my son to the pumpkin patch in the next few weeks, and hopefully there will be plenty of pumpkins to pick from. and maybe some apple cider and a hayride. :)

That looks like great fun! I think family traditions are important to hold onto, these days it’s too easy to let work and other aspects of life get in the way. My family tradition is that we all go to Mum & Dad’s to “erect” the Christmas tree and decorate it, they get a real tree every year and we have a party. On Anzac day we all get together and make LOADS of Anzac biscuits and then make ourselves ill eating them! Family is really important to me and obviously to you too, I’m glad you didn’t make the call… look at the adventure you got to have. Thank you for sharing your day with us!

I took my kids to Oak Glen for the pumpkin patch. It was a ton of fun and I snapped some great pictures. As I recall they had apples too but not for picking, just for pressing the cider. We did that too, but my finicky kids didn’t like the taste of it. Looks like you had a good time! Congrats on being FP!

I grew up in Redlands and spent many hours every autumn and winter in Oak Glen, whether picking apples, or just hanging out to write at the old school. I haven’t been since winter 2006 and I moved to NC. Thanks for the link to a nice trip down memory lane. Peace

Aloha, Picking apples, picking raspberries, picking any kind of food thats nice and fresh. Especially thanks for taking the children on a special day out. I wrote a piece “Kinder Farm” a few weeks back just to encourage folks to show their children where the food comes from. Most have no idea. Pumpkins will be ready soon. Oh yea, I discovered you in the window.
Good work! Dohn.